Dr Asangba Tzudir
Discussions on the importance of achieving gender equality is also attested by various estimates that it will take another 300 years to reach full gender equality at the current rate of progress worldwide. It is estimated that, globally, an additional USD 360 billion is needed annually to achieve SDG 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment (Op-ED, The Daily Star. UN Women, Asia and the Pacific). While efforts continue to press towards reaching full gender equality, the world wide crisis abound everywhere starting from the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, devastating disasters, environmental depletion, and the economic turmoil which have pushed millions of people into severe poverty. This will further lead to gender disparity.
As such, among all the pressing concerns, gender equality remains the greatest human rights challenge, and therefore investing in women is a right and which is imperative as it is the cornerstone for building inclusive societies. However, the challenge being the fact that the present economic situation will discourage public spending and which will disproportionately affect women and the marginalized groups even as issues related to gender equality are increasingly coming under threat.
While the so many global issues destabilize development, for social progress a key focus still remains the issues associated with gender disparity and this calls for policies like ‘gender-responsive financing’ which works for everyone towards ensuring gender-equitable distribution of resources and thereby contributing to equal opportunities for all. Further, there is need for giving greater focus on ‘green economy’ and thereby create a ‘care society’ and which will also help amplify women’s voices.
Such policy measures are integral for the growth of our state too. During the celebration of International Women’s day 2024 at Kohima, Minister for Women Resource Development and Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse voiced out that, “investing in women is not just a matter of morality, but a matter of social and economic progress. When we invest in women, we invest in a better tomorrow for everyone – a society where opportunities are equal, achievements are celebrated and progress knows no boundaries.” As such this calls for grassroots policy development starting from the health of girl child to issues of violence against women, economic empowerment, inculcating leadership, self-help and innovations, women with disabilities etc. All these and more will help provide the tools to accelerate growth and progress towards creating a more sustainable future.
There still is a long way to go to achieve gender equality, and in context the reality presents a very sorry tale especially when we think and talk about the ‘women at the margins.’ Women continue to suffer from being subjugated within different forms and layers of oppression, and it is very easy to put things in theoretical perspective, to highlight the plight of women and to address the confronting issues. That, it needs to go beyond theory and begin by addressing their issues in praxis first by listening to their stories and struggles, and then adopt various tailored policy measures that would really help create resources and development spaces from where they can assert themselves politically, socially, culturally, religiously, and economically which in turn will accelerate growth and progress of the society.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
